Robert F. Jacob Biography


	This biography appears on pages 91-92 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				ROBERT F. JACOB.  

	Among the prosperous farmers of Yankton precinct, Yankton county, 
is Robert F. Jacob, a son of Frederick and Magdalena (Kuepfer) Jacob. 
His birth occurred in Berne, Switzerland, November 6, 1867, and he 
resided there until 1884, when he accompanied his parents to America, 
The family left Switzerland on the 24th of February and two days later 
sailed from Havre, France, on the steamer Labrador for New York, 
reaching that port after a voyage of thirteen days. In Switzerland the 
family had known relatives of the Burgi family of Yankton, this state, 
and upon reaching the new world made their way thither. The first 
summer in South Dakota the father worked at his trade of a stonemason 
and several of his boys worked as farm hands, Robert F. being employed 
by August Braunschreuther. The younger boys herded cattle for small 
wages. The following year Mr. Jacob rented the farm of Felix Von Ins at 
Rudolph's Hill and operated that place for nine years. Some of the 
trees on the place were planted by him and his sons. Their residence at 
that time was a log cabin, as were most of the pioneer homes. Mr. Jacob 
subsequently purchased land on section 3, where he has since lived, and 
on section 10, Yankton precinct, his half section being one of the best 
farms of his locality. His sons are all located near him and are 
prospering as farmers.  

	Robert F. Jacob remained with his parents until after reaching 
his majority and shell worked for two years as a farm hand for John 
Arndt. At the end of that time he was married and rented a farm from 
John Coulson for a year. As the drought killed his crops he began 
selling the milk from his two cows in order to make a living and found 
the business so profitable that he increased the number of cows 
gradually and in time had quite a large herd. In 1884 he purchased his 
present farm in Yankton precinct and engaged in the dairy business on 
quite a large scale. He subsequently sold out but again entered the 
business, in which be successfully continued until 1914, when he sold 
his dairy interests, since confining his attention to farming. He first 
purchased forty acres of brush land which he cheered and improved and 
later added an eighty acre tract, all of which is also cleared. He 
erected a fine residence, which is attractively furnished, and the work 
of the farm is expedited by excellent equipment, including a large 
barn, good granaries and a silo, while the farm machinery used is of 
the most approved models.  

	On the 25th of March, 1891, Mr. Jacob married Miss Bertha Iseli, 
a native of Switzerland and a daughter of John Alfred Iseli. She 
emigrated to America in 1882, two years after her parents, who settled 
in Bon Homme county. They afterward lived in Nebraska and now are 
living retired in Yankton, South Dakota. To Mr. and Mrs. Jacob have 
been born three children: Dora, at home; Bertha, the wife of Albert 
Bade, of Yankton; and Robert E., at home.  

	Mr. Jacob is a stanch republican and can be counted upon to vote 
the ticket as he firmly believes that the principles of that party are 
most conducive to good government. He was reared in the faith of the 
German Reformed church and has never seen reason for departing 
therefrom. As a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen and the Fraternal Order of Eagles he is well 
known in fraternal circles, where he has many warm friends. He has 
gained an enviable success as a dairyman and farmer and in so doing has 
adhered strictly to honorable business methods, thus winning the 
respect of all who have been connected with him in any way.